(U2) The Revolutions Of February And October 1917 Flashcards

1
Q

Explain the effect WWI had on the Russian economy with regards to:

Food supplies (4)

A
  • requisitioning reduced agricultural output —> horses and fertilizers taken for war
  • sales of food became unprofitable (due to inflation), farmers stopped selling grain
  • hunger began to border famine
  • Petrograd by 1917 had to ration bread and received less than 1/4 of the bread in 1914
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2
Q

Explain the effect WWI had on the Russian economy with regards to:

Inflation (2)

A
  • spending rose from 4m to 30m roubles
  • to fund this, the gold standard was abandoned and more notes were printed —> causing inflation to rise
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3
Q

Explain the effect WWI had on the Russian economy with regards to:

Transport (4)

A

Transport:

  • the rail system was mechanically inefficient and was not fit for war
  • by 1916 it verged on collapse
  • food transport cut: 1914 - Moscow received 2,200 wagons of food per month
  • by 1917 this fell to only 700 per month
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4
Q

What key issue hampered the Russian army on the frontlines in WWI?

A

Equipment shortages:

  • Despite being the largest military in Europe, equipment didn’t reach the frontlines
  • Russian expenditure was high, however poor planning around transport prevented equipment reaching troops
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5
Q

What move by Tsar Nicholas II in WWI grew criticism against him?

When and why did this cause criticism?

A
  • August 1915: Tsar becomes commander in chief of the army
  • he was now accountable for any military failures
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6
Q

How did low morale in the military become evident?

What does this suggest? (Russia WWI)

A
  • Numbers of caught deserters grew: 195,130 deserters in March 1917 to 365,137 in August 1917
  • the army knew they could not win the war

can round numbers if you want

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7
Q

Who led Russia prior to the February 1917 revolution?

A

Tsar Nicholas II

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8
Q

Upon the Tsar changing his role, who did the Tsar leave in charge of government?

A

The Tsarina and Rasputin

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9
Q

What is a soviet?

A

A soldier’s or worker’s council

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10
Q

Upon the Duma being recalled in July 1915, what key mistake did the Tsar make?

What did this cause?

A
  • He didn’t co-operate with the zemstva and the union of municipal councils
  • this furthered political opposition to the Tsar
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11
Q

Which political coalition formed in opposition to the Tsar in August 1915?

Who was part of it? (4)

A
  1. the Progressive Bloc
    • the Kadets
    • the Octobrists
    • Nationalists and
    • progressive industrialists
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12
Q

Why did the Progressive Bloc become direct opponents of the Tsar?

A

The Tsar failed to grant reforms they pledged

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13
Q

Between 1915 and 1916, how many PMs did Russia have?

What does this highlight?

A
  • 4
  • political chaos
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14
Q

Why did the role of Rasputin create opposition to the Tsarina and the Tsar?

Why was this a problem?

A
  • He was unpopular with the aristocracy
  • the aristocracy were a key pillar of the Tsarist regime - alienating them risked losing their support
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15
Q

What effect did the high turnover of ministers (under the Tsarina) have on members of the Duma?

A

Discontent grew - members felt their demands were not taken seriously

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16
Q

Upon coming back to Petrograd, what mistakes did the Tsar make with regards to the Duma?

Give evidence of this.

What effect did this have?

A
  • He refused to listen to concerns raised by the Duma
  • seen through dissolution of Duma Feb 27th 1917
  • this only led to further discontent and opposition
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17
Q

When did the aristocrats plot to murder Rasputin?

A

December 1916

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18
Q

When did the strike at the Putilov steel factory begin?

By day 4, how many were protesting?

What happened on the 5th day which grew the protests further?

A
  • 18th Feb 1917
  • 100,000 (Feb 22nd)
  • women joined for international women’s day (Feb 23rd)
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19
Q

On what day had the Putilov strikes crippled Petrograd?

How did the Tsar respond?

A
  • 25th February 1917
  • dissolved the Duma (27th Feb)
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20
Q

How did the February Revolution manifest itself? (Broadly) (3)

not causes - actions that immediately caused it

A
  • the Putilov strikes - crippled Petrograd to the point the Tsar couldn’t return (28th Feb - train stopped)
  • Tsar abdicates (2nd March 1917) - advised by generals
  • New Provisional Govt formed (3rd March 1917)
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21
Q

Why was the Prov govt immediately unstable? (4)

A
  • Many different parties - causing decision making to be slow & difficult
  • struggled to meet needs - therefore weren’t supported by the working and middle-lower classes
  • granted political amnesty - freed opponents like Lenin
  • order no. 1 & dual authority
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22
Q

What was the most powerful soviet in 1917?

Why were they so powerful?

When did it emerge?

A
  • The Petrograd soviet
  • they controlled some public services, the people’s milita (police replacement) and the city’s military garrison - instead of the prov govt
  • Feb 1917
23
Q

When was order no.1 issued and what was it?

What part of it weakened the authority of the Prov Govt? And why?

A
  • March 1st 1917 - a list of rules for military personnel issued by Soviets
  • article 4 - soviet orders were more important than govt ones when there was a conflict of interest
  • as a result - Soviets had greater control over the military
24
Q

What change occurred in Soviets during summer 1917?

Why?

A
  • influence shifted from moderates (Mensheviks) to more hardliners (Bolsheviks)
  • the Prov govt didn’t leave WWI - Bolsheviks supported exit, as did most members of the public
25
Q

What 5 key errors did the prov govt make?

A
  • agreeing to Dual Authority with Soviets
  • promising reforms it couldn’t deliver (e.g. land reform)
  • waiting until constituent assembly elections to implement reforms
  • keeping Russia in WWI
  • the Kornilov affair - strengthened the Bolsheviks and gave them momentum
26
Q

Why did the Prov Govt keep Russia in WW1?

A

Purely for pragmatic reasons:

  • Russia relied on allied supplies and financial aid
  • by leaving the War, they risked bankruptcy
27
Q

When was the June offensive?

What was it?

A
  • June 1917
  • a final frantic attempt to achieve a military breakthrough in WWI - under Prov Govt
28
Q

Why and how did Lenin return to Russia (1917)

A
  • heard of tsars abdication
  • feared bolsheviks without his leadership would compromise with other socialists and even the government
  • Germany helped him return to Russia to destabilize and force them to leave war
29
Q

Who was politically in charge of the June Offensive?

A

Alexander Kerensky - war minister

30
Q

After how long did it appear clear the June Offensive had failed?

What effect did this have on the army?

A
  • 3 weeks in
  • will was lost - deserters increased and regiments mutinied
31
Q

What was said after Lenin returned

A
  • 16th April 1917 - Finland Station Petrograd, Lenin: ‘No support must be given to the provisional government
  • (separately) Kerensky: ‘just you wait, Lenin himself is coming then the real thing begins!’
32
Q

What was the April theses and what did it result in? (3)

(for the Bolsheviks)

A
  1. 10 directives - used as a form of propaganda/manifesto
    • attackedimperialist war’,
    • advocated overthrowing government,
    • transfer “all power to the soviets
  2. It gave the party clear political objectives and sloganPeace, Bread and Land
33
Q

Why did the Bolsheviks use propaganda

and

What was the results of their use?

A
  • used it to exploit government shortcomings and mistakes
  • increased support: by October 1917 had more than 300,000 mainly in cities
34
Q

How many Russian soldier casualties resulted from the June Offensive?

What did this cause?

A
  • 60,000
  • further political unrest and opposition to the war
35
Q

What was Kerensky’s response to Lenin’s return? (3)

A
  • quickly blamed July days on Lenin calling him ‘the German agent
  • Bolsheviks publicly condemned and weakened significantly
  • however after Kornilov affair Kerensky leaned on Bolsheviks
36
Q

What broad factors led to the July Days protests? (3)

A
  • problems at home worsened (e.g. food shortages)
  • economic issues persisted
  • people grew dissatisfied with govt conduct, particularly around the war
37
Q

Results of Kerensky leaning on Bolsheviks (3)

A
  • Petrograd Soviet mobilized, Bolsheviks released from prison, red guards armed
  • after Kornilov defeat Bolsheviks used it as propaganda
  • some argue Kerensky gave Lenin momentum
38
Q

How did Lenin take advantage of peasants’ land seizures? (2)

A
  • changed tactics - slogan “Land to the Peasants
  • promised them land that they seized gaining their support
39
Q

How did the July Days protests unfold? (5)

A
  • Soviets spread across Russia
  • sailors, soldiers and laborers at Kronstadt naval base (Petrograd) set up a rival govt
  • workers took over factories
  • peasants siezed land by force from landlords
  • protests in Petrograd against the idea of Ukrainian independence
40
Q

Over which days did the ‘July Days’ protests occur?

Why were they quickly quashed?

A
  • 3rd to 7th July 1917
  • they were unplanned, unorganised and had unclear aims - lack of leadership
41
Q

Who did the Prov Govt blame for the ‘July Days’ protests?

What was their basis?

A
  • The Bolsheviks
  • Lenin declared in June 1917 - he and his supporters ready to take power
42
Q

What was the key success and key failure of the ‘July Days’ protests for the Bolsheviks

A
  • Bolsheviks didn’t gain power and were held in a lower regard
  • however, they learned lessons which assisted the October Revolution
43
Q

Who was General Lavr Kornilov?

A
  • commander in charge of the June Offensive
  • became commander-in-chief (July 19th 1917)
44
Q

Outline the events of the Kornilov Affair (3)

A
  • Kornilov - sends troops to Petrograd to deal with Bolsheviks and restore ‘law and order
  • Kerensky feared a coup - perhaps to bring back Romanov rule
  • Kerensky turns to Bolsheviks: arms Red Guards and Bolshevik prisoners, whom he set free
45
Q

Who was the PM of the prov govt during the October Revolution?

A

Alexander Kerensky

46
Q

What was the effect of the Kornilov affair on the military?

A
  • Kornilov (commander-in-chief) arrested
  • Kerensky’s apparent betrayal caused deserters to grow in number
47
Q

Why was the Kornilov affair so damaging for the Prov Govt? (3)

A
  • Bolsheviks, govt’s main political rivals, were made stronger - both weapons and influence
  • well armed while the army was weakened - deserters and WWI
  • many in the army felt betrayed and alienated - weakened chance of defence against a coup
48
Q

Who were the only party to oppose WWI in 1914?

Why was this important?

A
  • The Bolsheviks
  • it gave them some political leverage when the war went wrong
49
Q

Give membership figures which demonstrate the growth of the Bolsheviks. (3)

Where were the majority of their supporters from?

A
    • March 1917 - 11,000 members
    • June 1917 - just under 200,000 members
    • October 1917 - more than 300,000 members
  1. Cities like Petrograd and Moscow
50
Q

When were the Military Revolutionary Committee (MRC) formed?

By whom?

What were their aims?

A
  • Sept 12th 1917
  • Leon Trotsky
  • Defend the capital against another Kornilov style attack or against German forces
51
Q

When was the SDLP meeting in which Lenin demanded a coup?

A

October 10th 1917

52
Q

When was Trotsky’s operation in which the prov govt was overthrown?

What happened?

How long did it take to overthrow the govt?

A
  • 25th October 1917
  • Petrograd’s essential services (i.e. energy, transport) shut down. Prov govt lack control
  • 36 hours
53
Q

Who was Rodzianko?

Why was his stance important?

A
  • a former loyalist to the tsar, chairman of the Duma and a key leader of the Progressive bloc
  • once he lost faith in the Tsar, many other politicians followed suit
54
Q

Who was Milyukov?

What was the famous line from his famous speech in the Duma?

A
  • a Kadet who later became a key leader in the Progressive Bloc
  • is this stupidity or is it treason?